Martin Bell Summer Camp, Southampton Alpine Centre, 6-10 August 2007

Background: The annual Bell Brothers Summer Camp was started by Martin and Graham Bell at Harrogate in 1988. In the mid-90s, it was moved to Hillingdon then re-located a few years later to Wycombe Summit. This will be the camp’s first year at its new home in Southampton. Although primarily based around race training, the camp has traditionally catered to a wide range of abilities. For some, it is simply an introduction to racing techniques - such trainees may have skied recreationally on snow for a few years, or may have just started regular race training at their local dry slope. At the other end of the spectrum, the more experienced trainees may be looking to knock off a few tenths of a second.
Age range: 7-17 (Over-17s may join in as "helpers" - demonstrating technique, etc.)
Timetable: Each day at the slope runs from 10am to 6pm. The final hour consists of ski prep, rollerblading and other non-skiing activities, in case parents need to collect children before 6pm. About half the time is spent skiing - technique drills and slalom courses. The rest is taken up with video playback, and fitness - FUN games for agility and co-ordination, plus some basic fitness tests. For most sessions, the trainees are divided into groups according to ability. During the week, there are some fun races: a team dual slalom, an individual dual slalom, and a timed slalom at the end of the week.
The slope: Southampton Alpine Centre has three dendix covered slopes of 110 m, 90 m and 30 m, serviced by two poma drag lifts. For more info visit:
www.southampton-alpine-centre.co.uk
The residential option: Those from further a field may attend as residential trainees. They can be dropped off at 10am on the first Monday morning, and picked up at 6pm on the Friday afternoon. Between those times, they will be lodged locally, transported to and from the ski slope each day, and supervised at all times. They will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. It is always exciting for the trainees to stay away from home for four nights, with a bunch of other children, and good preparation for future on-snow training camps abroad.
The Accommodation: At Lucia Foster Welch halls of residence, Southampton Solent University. (Royal Crescent Road, Southampton SO14 3ZP)

Coaches: Martin Bell started ski-racing in Scotland, then attended the Stams Ski Academy in Austria. He skied for Britain in World Cup, World Championships and Olympics between 1981 and 1995, with six World Cup placings in the top ten. He holds the British Olympic record in Men's Downhill, and has taken 13 British Championship titles (4 Overall, 3 Slalom, 2 Giant Slalom, 1 Super G and 3 Downhill). In 1997, he won the Jeep King of the Mountain professional title in the USA. On dry slopes, he won the All-England Championships six times between 1988 and 1994.. He is the Equipment Editor for Daily Mail Ski magazine. He has commentated on ski-racing for BBC, Channel 4 and ESPN. Martin also runs Easter camps for skiers aged 10 to 16 in Zermatt with Powder Byrne Holidays. (www.powderbyrne.com)
Spenser Pession - former British Giant Slalom Champion, member of the 1994 British Olympic Team. Italian-qualified Maestro di Sci.
Former winner of the prestigious “Topolino” international children’s race.
Prices: Non-residential £150 per person per week.
Residential £300 per person per week.

How to book: Provisionally, by e-mail: martinbellskicamps@hotmail.com

To confirm a booking, please fill out this form and send it, with £40 deposit, to: Martin Bell Camps, 30 Anaconda Drive, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730, USA
(Cheques payable to "Martin Bell" please)
Please indicate whether you require the residential or non-residential option.
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